Pique to miss four weeks with hip injury

Barcelona, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Barcelona will be without defender Gerard Pique for the next four weeks after he sustained a hairline fracture in his right hip in Tuesday's Champions League match with Atletico Madrid.

Pique lasted just 12 minutes in Tuesday's contest after he fell hard on his right side while challenging for a header in the 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.

The Spain international was replaced by Marc Bartra and he will now miss the return leg of the quarterfinal with Atletico on April 9 as well as potentially four league games and the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 16.

Pique is the top defender at Barcelona and his injury comes at a bad time with the club sitting one point back of Atletico at the top of La Liga with seven games to play.

The 27-year-old has appeared in 38 games in all competitions for Barcelona this term.